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Rox use second pick for prep pitcher

Rox use second pick for prep pitcher

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By Thomas Harding
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MLB.com |

DENVER -- Lexington, Ky., high school pitcher Chaz Roe went to his older brother a couple of years ago for pointers on throwing a curveball. Roe soon will be displaying that, as well as a 91-92 mph fastball, for the Colorado Rockies organization.

The Rockies used the 32nd overall pick in the supplemental first round of Tuesday's 2005 First-Year Player Draft to select Roe, a 6-foot-5 right-hander who struck out 177 in 117 innings over the past two seasons at Lafayette High School. On Wednesday, general manager Dan O'Dowd said he hoped to reach an agreement on a signing bonus and have Roe in the Minor League system soon.

"My curveball was not that great until my junior year, when my brother taught me how to hold it," said Roe, whose brother, Czack, is two years older and pitched in junior college.

"I had held it real loose and didn't get a sharp break. But I started choking up and it was much better."

Roe said his brother coached him mentally as well. "My brother helped me to stay calm, don't lose my focus and have fun," he said.

Although Roe signed with the University of Kentucky during the fall, he said Tuesday that he has hired Larry Reynolds as his agent. Usually, a player's family uses an agent as an "adviser," since formally hiring him forfeits college eligibility.

Roe, 18, said he had been told the Atlanta Braves would draft him 27th overall but realized there could be some surprises. He said he was hoping to speak with the Rockies soon and believes the sides can negotiate a deal within days.

Here's a look at each player the Rockies selected, with a comment about each from scouting director Bill Schmidt:

(Note -- Schmidt noted that several players are classified as "draft-and-follow." Those players are under the "draft, follow and evaluate" program, where teams can watch a player during the summer as well as if he attends a junior college in the fall, and have until shortly before next year's draft to sign him.)

52. Daniel Carte, OF, Winthrop University: "He was the MVP of the Cape Cod League. He's not a real big kid, but he's a solid runner -- not the prototype center-field speed."

55. Zachary Simons, RHP, Everett (Wash.) CC: "He's been a two-way player -- when he doesn't pitch, he can play the outfield. Our scouts liked his presence when he strictly pitched. He has a chance to have two 'plus' [above-average] pitches."

87. Kyle Hancock, RHP, Rowlett (Texas) HS: "He's a very projectable high school pitcher. Our scouts had very strong feelings about him. He has a loose arm, good life with the fastball and at times has thrown a very quality breaking pitch."

117. Brandon Durden, LHP, Georgia College & State U: "He's an athletic kid from a small college. He still needs some refinement. He's not your typical college picture. He's kind of a projection, but he's a strong-bodied kid."

147. Joshua Sullivan, RHP, Auburn: "He's a pretty projectable athlete. He was a backup quarterback on their football team. He has a live arm, projectable stuff. We've just got to get him on the mound more. He played some third base and catcher as a freshman, but he reverted to the mound."

177. Corey Wimberly, 2B, Alcorn State: "He's a small guy with speed, a switch-hitter, led the nation in batting average. ... He's tough to strike out."

357. Dominick Foster, RHP, Fresno (Calif.) CC: "He's a kid we had under our control last year. He has arm strength but limited time on the mound. He'll probably end up being a draft-and-follow again."

387. Michael Paulk, LF, Cal State Northridge: "He's played first, he's played center, he's played left. I think he had 18 home runs a year ago. I don't think he's hit as many this year. Just a left-handed college bat."

417. Kyle Blumenthal, C, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: "He's a left-handed-hitting catcher who can play third. He was on a junior college stat championship team at Riverside City. He's a college senior who's got some versatility."

447. Travis Becktel, CF, San Jose State: "He's a right-handed-hitting college senior who was ranked the No. 6 or 7 prospect in the Alaska (summer) League. He had a pretty decent season at San Jose State."

477. Bret Berglund, LF, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo: "He needs to refine his game and improve his skill, but there's tools there. He went to Kent Denver [High School] and Arizona State before transferring."

507. James Freeman, LHP, Washington State: "He's an older kid, a college senior. I believe he started at Washington State. He can start or come out of the bullpen."

537. Brett Strickland, RHP, Georgia State: "He's a little right-hander with some arm strength. He's been up to 94 [mph]."

1,196. Joseph Servais, C, Garden City (Kan.) CC: "Draft-and-follow -- that's Scott's nephew. [Scott Servais is a former Major League catcher who scouts for the Rockies.]"

1,225. Jeremy Farrell, 3B, St. Ignatius (Ohio) HS: "We'll watch him this summer. That's the son of John Farrell, farm director of the Indians and a former big league pitcher. He and Havens are two guys that are probably going to go to college but you never know if things change over the course of the summer."

1,254. Maikol Gonzales, SS, Louisburg College: "Draft-and-follow -- that's a kid we had in Venezuela that we helped get in school .